Switch stand



Sept. 13, 1932. c DAVlDsoN 1,877,276

SWITCH STAND Filed March 28, 1952 Patented Sept. 13, 1932 "cLIF on DAVIDSON, or DECATUR, ILLINOIS SWITCH STAND Application filed March 28,1832. Serial No. 601*}611'.

Thisinvention relates to a switch stand-and particularly to an improved means for preventing accidental disengagement of the looking means and thereby avoiding accidents which might result therefrom.

Prior to my invention these devices have been dangerous either because of failure to provide any means for preventing accidental disengagement of the locking means or because the means provided was not sufficiently simple or easily operated to avoid the temptation to operatives to neglect the proper precautions. j

1 Accordingly it is an object of my invention to provide a safety latchwliich shall be simple and extremely easily" operated whereby to safeguard against accidents to the very large est possible extent. r

I attain the foregoing and other and more limited objects in and through the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewshowing a'switch stand of substantially the usual construction with the addition of my improved safety device and Fig. 2 is a-plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a plate or table, which is preferably supported by uprights or legs of usual construction (not shown), and which will be provided with notches 11. Extending through the table or plate 10 is an upright shaft 12 which is adapted to be connected in operating relation to the switch whereby to operate the same when it is rotated. The shaft 12 also passes through a movable member 18 and is secured against rotation with respect thereto as by a pin 14. The movable member 13 preferably is movable over the table 10 in substantial contact therewith as indicated although it may be spaced therefrom if desired. The member 13 is provided with a slotted projection extending laterally from the main body thereof. The projection is generally indicated by the numeral 15 and the slot therein by the numeral 16. Pivoted within the slot 16 as by a pin 18 is a locking lever 17. This lever projects a considerable distancebelow the pivot point and terminates in a handle, not shown. This lever also extends above the pivot l8 and above the inner portion. of the projection 15.

connect the: two portions of the projection. 15

atthesiidesiof the slot 16' and may be carried by an upward. extension: whereby to form a stop for the upper end of the locking lever 17.. r The foregoing construction is common practice and. per: se forms no: part ofv my invention. j y Glampied: to the shaft 12 are apair of clamp members 20 and2-1 urged into: clamping relation. the shaft. by suitablerbolts 22 and 23. Extending between the downturned end portions of the members 20-and 21 is a sleeve 24 which caused to be tightly gripped be tween such en'd. portions by a. bolt 25 extend.- ing therethrough. Pivoted on the sleeve 2 1 is a stout locking bar" 26.. Extending transversely of the bar 26 at the end; thereof and welded to "the lower surface. is a positioning bar 27. Connected by welding. or any equiva-- lent'manner to: the bar 26 intermediaterthe ends thereof is. a. T-shaped'handle' member 28 which extends upwardly'and the arms-of which extend laterally. beyond the; movable member "13" is: clearly indicate-din Fig; 2.

- From-theforegoing'iitis obvious that when the latch,.:compri:sed of the 'members 26, 27 and 28, is the position. shown in'Fig; 1, the locking lever .17 cannot. be rotated counterclockwise; and therefore cannotv become disengagedi from the notches 11.. When the latch is in up position, that is. moved out of thepath ofthe upper end of. the lever 17,

the switch can-be operated in the usual manner. It is within contemplation of my in vention to: provide shoulders. 29' on the mem bers 20 and 2 1 which shall act asistops to limit the 'l'Jip-wald: motion of, the bar 26. These may be positionedso as to prevent the center of gravity'of thelatch movingto. the left of the pivot 25.- if it is desired that the same shall always return. automatically under the action of gravityto latching position- This, while eliminating the necessity "for: attention on the part of; the operative, iszsomewhat less convenient since .he'must hold it in up position; while he rotates'the lever-l7 out of the to engage in said notches notch 11. If this should be undesirable it would be possible to make the handle 28 of such upward extent and of such Weight that the center of gravity would be at the left of the pivot or the shoulders 29 might be positioned to secure this effect. It is, however, preferred that the latch shall automatically return to the position shown in Fig. 1 when the lever 17 is moved to locking position.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention'I wish'lt understood that I am not limited to the details illustrated, since, obviously, changes may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim is:

1. In combination with a switchstand having the usual fixed table provided with notches, an upright shaft passing there through and adapted to be connected in operating relation to a switch, a movable member carried by said shaft and movable over said tablefor operating the shaft, an operating lever pivotedthereto' and adapted to be received in said notches, a clamp connected to said shaft and a latch pivoted to said clamp and adapted to fall in behind the upper end of said lever to prevent a-ccidentalremovalof the same from said notches. 1 i

2. vIn combination with a switch stand having a table provided with a plurality of notches, an upright shaft adapted to. control a switch, a movablem'ember carried by said shaft and projecting'laterally therefrom and provided with a pivoted locking lever adapte and extending beyond a portion of said movable member, of

1 notches and having a portion extending above saidmovable member,-a.latch pivoted to said movable-member and j comprising a stoutbar-adapted-lto be moved 5 with respect a clamp connected to said shaft andcarrying a latch member pivotally connected thereto and adapted to engage behindya portion of said: lever for preventing aIccidentaL dis'en thereof from said notches.

having a nected at the end thereof and a handle meniber connected thereto intermediate theends and extending upwardly and laterally for I convenient gripping. :"i 4 7 4. In a device ofthe character described.

a table member provided witha plurality of behind the upwardly extending portion of grasping.

5. As a sub-combination for use in connection with a railway switch, a clamp means and a latch member pivoted thereto and comprising a bar having a transverse positioning member connected at the end thereof and a handle member connected thereto intermediate the ends and extending upwardly and laterally'for convenient grasping.

,6. In a device of the character described, a table member provided with a plurality of notches, a vertical shaft extending thereswitch, a movable member carried by said shaft for rotating the same extending laterally therefrom and movable over said table, a lever pivotally connected to said-movable member adapted to enter said notches and having a portion extending abovesaid movable member, a clamp connected to said shaft above said movable member, a latch pivoted to said clamp and comprising a bar adapted to be moved behind the upwardly extending portion of said lever, a transverse member connected thereto and adapted to engage said movable member for positioning said bar and .a T- 'shaped,handle connected to said bar in d termediate the vends thereof and'having the arms of the T' projecting laterally beyond the edges of said movable member'for convenient grasping. In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

' CLIFTON B. DAVIDSON;

notches, a vertical shaftadapted to control a I switch, a movable 'member {carried bysaid 1 shaft extending laterally therefrom. and movable over said table forirotating the shaft, a lever pivot'ally connected to said movable member adaptedto enter oneiof said through and adapted to control a railway l 

